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ashcash04's review
4.0
Well that was adorable ❤️ I especially appreciated that the conflict wasn't drawn out and that they used their brains like adults.
ksvoya's review
4.0
It was so adorable and lovely! It's a really good rom-com that's super fun to read and all the characters are endearing and charming in their own way
(it also made me discover my fondness for donuts...)
(it also made me discover my fondness for donuts...)
kelliereadsalot's review
5.0
This book was superb. I was throughly invested from start to finish. And my goodness the smut was on another level. I was not prepared for all that smut but who’s complaining? Not me.
Mel was over the top annoying.
And yes we get it. He has nice abs.
But other than that I loved it.
Mel was over the top annoying.
And yes we get it. He has nice abs.
But other than that I loved it.
alexa573's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
books_and_more_books_byt's review
4.0
Donut Fall in Love is a sweet slow-burn romance that takes place in Toronto between a baker and a famous actor. It was a cute and light read but also hit topics such as racism, grief, family, and all the things that go along with being a celebrity. It had depth, was funny, and the storyline was solid. I did find it to be slow-paced in some places, but it was not enough to dissuade me from continuing.
Asian actor Ryan Kwok was taking some time off after his last grueling promotional tour. His last movie, That Kind of Wedding, was receiving some negative reviews and because the main parts given to Asian actor was limited, Ryan was afraid he had let down other Asian actors. After the recent death of his mother, he returns to Toronto to spend some much-needed time with his dad and his sister who is about to have a baby. His relationship with his father has always been strained but after his mother’s death, it got worse. Ryan is trying to work on their relationship but unfortunately, his father (@RyanKwoksfather) would rather chat on Ryan’s Twitter account than talk to Ryan. Even though he is taking a break, his agent asks him to participate in a celebrity episode of the baking show Baking Fail. Ryan remembers making cupcakes with his mom and thought it was for a great cause. He wants to look efficient on the show, so he asks Lindsay for some baking classes.
Lindsay McLeod is co-owner of Kinsington Bake Shop, and she turns making donuts into an art form. Her partner is on her honeymoon, so Lindsay is managing the bakeshop. She does not usually teach baking classes, but she agrees to help Ryan. She discovers there is more to Ryan than what the media portrays.
This was the first book I have read by the author, and I really enjoyed her writing style. She gave us an inside view of how the media can be intruding and its effect on personal lives. I liked the humor and uniqueness of the cute-meet between the main characters. The characters were likable although I was disappointed by Ryan and his bad decisions. He did redeem himself, but he hurt Lindsay with his actions. I was glad to see Ryan and his father’s relationship improve at the end of the book. His father’s Twitter comments were funny, and I loved how he stirred up Ryan’s image. There was a lot of tension between the side characters Vivian and Mel, and I hope to see them in a future book. Overall, this was a great book that will leave you smiling and a craving for donuts.
Asian actor Ryan Kwok was taking some time off after his last grueling promotional tour. His last movie, That Kind of Wedding, was receiving some negative reviews and because the main parts given to Asian actor was limited, Ryan was afraid he had let down other Asian actors. After the recent death of his mother, he returns to Toronto to spend some much-needed time with his dad and his sister who is about to have a baby. His relationship with his father has always been strained but after his mother’s death, it got worse. Ryan is trying to work on their relationship but unfortunately, his father (@RyanKwoksfather) would rather chat on Ryan’s Twitter account than talk to Ryan. Even though he is taking a break, his agent asks him to participate in a celebrity episode of the baking show Baking Fail. Ryan remembers making cupcakes with his mom and thought it was for a great cause. He wants to look efficient on the show, so he asks Lindsay for some baking classes.
Lindsay McLeod is co-owner of Kinsington Bake Shop, and she turns making donuts into an art form. Her partner is on her honeymoon, so Lindsay is managing the bakeshop. She does not usually teach baking classes, but she agrees to help Ryan. She discovers there is more to Ryan than what the media portrays.
This was the first book I have read by the author, and I really enjoyed her writing style. She gave us an inside view of how the media can be intruding and its effect on personal lives. I liked the humor and uniqueness of the cute-meet between the main characters. The characters were likable although I was disappointed by Ryan and his bad decisions. He did redeem himself, but he hurt Lindsay with his actions. I was glad to see Ryan and his father’s relationship improve at the end of the book. His father’s Twitter comments were funny, and I loved how he stirred up Ryan’s image. There was a lot of tension between the side characters Vivian and Mel, and I hope to see them in a future book. Overall, this was a great book that will leave you smiling and a craving for donuts.
lisawreading's review
4.0
Donut Fall In Love is a sweet (because BAKING), light romance that follows the celebrity love interest trope. It’s fairly formulaic plot-wise, but the character specifics, the setting, and the families make this book stand out as something special.
Lindsay runs a donut shop with her best friend Noreen, where they specialize in high-end, super-fancy treats, like matcha tiramisu and chocolate espresso donuts. Their baked goods are not just delicious, they’re works of art.
Ryan has returned to Toronto to spend more time with his family, anxiously watching reviews of his latest film to see what it will mean for his career. And as he notes, as an Asian actor, the movie industry seems to see the success or failure of his rom-com as a litmus test for whether an actor of Asian descent can pull off a romantic lead role. He feels the weight of representation on his shoulders, and worries not just about his own career, but whether his so-so box office results will spell doom for other Asian actors.
When Ryan is asked to appear as a celebrity contestant on a popular TV baking show (Baking Fail), he instantly thinks of the cute bakery owner he (literally) ran into the previous week, and asks Lindsay for baking lessons so that he doesn’t completely humiliate himself on national TV.
Lindsay, while also of Asian descent, was raised by a mother whose family emphasized assimilation, so she grew up without speaking the language that her grandparents grew up with. While Lindsay and Ryan’s backgrounds have many differences, they share a sense of otherness from growing up in largely white communities, and soon learn that they have much more in common than ethnic background and experiences with tokenism and racism.
Their weekly baking lessons become a highlight for both of them, as they laugh, flirt, and bake together, and they each realize that their enjoyment of each other’s company might be more than just friendship. Plus, their chemistry is undeniable, and while Ryan is the one who’s famous for being a sex symbol, the attraction is clearly, strongly mutual.
As is typical in celebrity-in-love-with-a-regular-person romances, Lindsay deals with self-doubt. Ryan is super hot, as is obvious from the popular hashtag #StarringRyanKwoksAbs. How can such a gorgeous man with a stunningly perfect body possibly be interesting in an ordinary, not-perfect person like her?
Ryan and Lindsay are very cute together, and soon find themselves intimately involved. But as they learn, sex might be easy, but true intimacy, trust, and emotional connection are much harder.
I liked a lot of aspects of Donut Fall In Love. Both Ryan and Lindsay are dealing with grief over the death of a parent, and the author portrays the lasting impact of these losses very thoughtfully and sensitively. I also appreciated the depiction of the impact of the casual racism disguised as humor that Ryan and other Asian actors must deal with, as well as the off-handed cruelty that internet commenters seem to have no problem throwing around, as if the people on the receiving end aren’t actually real people at all.
The characters’ family relationships are also well depicted, although I did feel that Ryan’s difficult relationship with his father was fixed rather suddenly and without a whole lot of processing.
I feel like I should have a steaminess index for when I review romances, but haven’t come up with a scale yet! In any case, this book has a mostly light and flirty tone, but when sex happens, it’s explicit, so be forewarned if that’s not your style when it comes to romance reading.
Overall, I really liked Donut Fall In Love. Yes, the plot is somewhat predictable and by the book, but the unique personalities and donut-filled settings make the story a tasty treat.
My main complaint? I feel like this book should come with a gift card to a bakery. It made me crave sweets on every page! Gimme donuts. Gimme donuts now.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. Full review at Bookshelf Fantasies.
Lindsay runs a donut shop with her best friend Noreen, where they specialize in high-end, super-fancy treats, like matcha tiramisu and chocolate espresso donuts. Their baked goods are not just delicious, they’re works of art.
Ryan has returned to Toronto to spend more time with his family, anxiously watching reviews of his latest film to see what it will mean for his career. And as he notes, as an Asian actor, the movie industry seems to see the success or failure of his rom-com as a litmus test for whether an actor of Asian descent can pull off a romantic lead role. He feels the weight of representation on his shoulders, and worries not just about his own career, but whether his so-so box office results will spell doom for other Asian actors.
When Ryan is asked to appear as a celebrity contestant on a popular TV baking show (Baking Fail), he instantly thinks of the cute bakery owner he (literally) ran into the previous week, and asks Lindsay for baking lessons so that he doesn’t completely humiliate himself on national TV.
Lindsay, while also of Asian descent, was raised by a mother whose family emphasized assimilation, so she grew up without speaking the language that her grandparents grew up with. While Lindsay and Ryan’s backgrounds have many differences, they share a sense of otherness from growing up in largely white communities, and soon learn that they have much more in common than ethnic background and experiences with tokenism and racism.
Their weekly baking lessons become a highlight for both of them, as they laugh, flirt, and bake together, and they each realize that their enjoyment of each other’s company might be more than just friendship. Plus, their chemistry is undeniable, and while Ryan is the one who’s famous for being a sex symbol, the attraction is clearly, strongly mutual.
As is typical in celebrity-in-love-with-a-regular-person romances, Lindsay deals with self-doubt. Ryan is super hot, as is obvious from the popular hashtag #StarringRyanKwoksAbs. How can such a gorgeous man with a stunningly perfect body possibly be interesting in an ordinary, not-perfect person like her?
Ryan and Lindsay are very cute together, and soon find themselves intimately involved. But as they learn, sex might be easy, but true intimacy, trust, and emotional connection are much harder.
I liked a lot of aspects of Donut Fall In Love. Both Ryan and Lindsay are dealing with grief over the death of a parent, and the author portrays the lasting impact of these losses very thoughtfully and sensitively. I also appreciated the depiction of the impact of the casual racism disguised as humor that Ryan and other Asian actors must deal with, as well as the off-handed cruelty that internet commenters seem to have no problem throwing around, as if the people on the receiving end aren’t actually real people at all.
The characters’ family relationships are also well depicted, although I did feel that Ryan’s difficult relationship with his father was fixed rather suddenly and without a whole lot of processing.
I feel like I should have a steaminess index for when I review romances, but haven’t come up with a scale yet! In any case, this book has a mostly light and flirty tone, but when sex happens, it’s explicit, so be forewarned if that’s not your style when it comes to romance reading.
Overall, I really liked Donut Fall In Love. Yes, the plot is somewhat predictable and by the book, but the unique personalities and donut-filled settings make the story a tasty treat.
My main complaint? I feel like this book should come with a gift card to a bakery. It made me crave sweets on every page! Gimme donuts. Gimme donuts now.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. Full review at Bookshelf Fantasies.
amyreadsandsails's review against another edition
5.0
mf - contemporary romance - moderate steam - Asian MCs - Asian author - pov: third dual - celebrity - food industry (pastry chef and baking show) - wealthy - workplace. Jackie Lau has always been a reliable 4 stars for me but this one is clearly my favorite of hers. I enjoyed the celebrity aspect a lot and picturing the MMC in those aprons learning how to bake was so cute.
smalltownbookmom's review
4.0
I absolutely adored this dual perspective romance about two Asian Canadians falling in love over donuts set in Toronto! Lindsay runs her own bakery and Ryan is a semi famous actor known for his rock hard abs who is taking a break after the recent death of his mother.
The two meet when Ryan walks into Lindsay's store knocking over a tray of her specialty matcha donuts. When Ryan signs up for a celebrity baking competition show he asks Lindsay to help teach him how to bake, leading to some sizzling chemistry that eventually brings the two together.
What I really loved the most (other than all the baking in this book), is how much family was a central part of the story. Ryan is trying to be there for his sister, who has recently given birth and dealing with postpartum, and also trying to connect with his stoic father - using Twitter as the means of communication in the most hilarious ways. Lindsay lost her father at a young age too and is able to relate to Ryan's grief.
Overall this was just a heartwarming love story and it was great to have it featuring Canadians in a Canadian city! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy. I switched between my physical book and the audiobook and really enjoyed both. Highly recommended, especially for fans of Accidentally engaged, The donut trap or Hana Khan carries on.
The two meet when Ryan walks into Lindsay's store knocking over a tray of her specialty matcha donuts. When Ryan signs up for a celebrity baking competition show he asks Lindsay to help teach him how to bake, leading to some sizzling chemistry that eventually brings the two together.
What I really loved the most (other than all the baking in this book), is how much family was a central part of the story. Ryan is trying to be there for his sister, who has recently given birth and dealing with postpartum, and also trying to connect with his stoic father - using Twitter as the means of communication in the most hilarious ways. Lindsay lost her father at a young age too and is able to relate to Ryan's grief.
Overall this was just a heartwarming love story and it was great to have it featuring Canadians in a Canadian city! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy. I switched between my physical book and the audiobook and really enjoyed both. Highly recommended, especially for fans of Accidentally engaged, The donut trap or Hana Khan carries on.
a_kira's review
3.0
Read for rom-com book club
Likes: Cute premise, delicious sounding food, and the way that relationships with their immediate family was an important priority
Likes: Cute premise, delicious sounding food, and the way that relationships with their immediate family was an important priority
meridithmy's review against another edition
The title made me buy it. Donuts and romance. Sounds amazing. And the first half was the perfect light fluffy romantic concoction. But then the characters started dating and then relationshipping and it just lost all the light and fluffy fun energy and became more of a stodgy too sweet mess. I finished it but I was no longer invested.
Overall the book was worth reading for the descriptions of baked goods especially donuts and bubble tea alone. Also what donut shop opens at 10:30am?!?! That fact bothered me even more than the sharp turn from fluffy fun to serious relationshipping.
Overall the book was worth reading for the descriptions of baked goods especially donuts and bubble tea alone. Also what donut shop opens at 10:30am?!?! That fact bothered me even more than the sharp turn from fluffy fun to serious relationshipping.